Ashley M. Ramp
PharmD, MS, MEd 

A childhood illness taught Dr. Ashley Ramp what it’s like to feel empowered. Her time as a high school teacher nurtured her love of educating others. And her years as a clinical pharmacist instilled a deep appreciation for compassionate patient care. Today, she channels that lifetime of experience into her role as a pharmacy leader.

Dr. Ramp was diagnosed with a chronic health condition at age 12, requiring frequent trips between her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh, where she received treatment. It was a formative experience, and what resonated the most was the one-on-one care from the pharmacist who taught the seventh grader how to give herself injections.

“The impact that the pharmacist had on me, teaching me about my medications and side effects, has stuck with me. She empowered me completely to take control of the therapy. I just remember the care and the time that [the pharmacist] took. I felt like they were the only one who treated me like an adult … and it made me realize what a pharmacist can do.” 

I just remember the care and the time that [the pharmacist] took. I felt like they were the only one who treated me like an adult … and it made me realize what a pharmacist can do.”

Dr. Ramp loved her first career chapter, teaching high school biology and chemistry, but she found herself craving “higher-level science.” She was drawn to healthcare, as her mother was a nurse. Pharmacy seemed like a natural choice, in large part due to her positive experience more than a decade earlier.

After earning her PharmD degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Ramp began to practice at a community hospital. She brought a patient-first sensibility to her pharmacy practice and, eventually, to her work as a preceptor.

“What I really loved about the community hospital was, from our top administrators down, it was all about making people feel welcome and making it a safe space for care. … Every time I’d walk into a patient room, I would look at the patient first, ask questions, and get to know them. It’s really about making that connection; that’s how they’re going to learn from you.” 

Dr. Ramp had even further aspirations: health-system leadership. She completed a PGY1/2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) residency at the Cleveland Clinic. Now with a master’s degree in health-system administration, she has led a team of pediatric pharmacists at Children’s Hospital Colorado in the Denver Metro area since 2022. The role combines the skills and insights she has honed all along the way: scientific knowledge, empathy, mentorship, and more.

“I love leading a team that is passionate about patient care and dealing with everyday challenges … so they can provide better and more efficient care. No two days are the same. … [Pharmacists] are not only the medication experts but also some of the best problem solvers in the healthcare industry. From shortage management to process improvement, finding solutions is necessary and natural to a pharmacist.”

While managing the day-to-day rigors of working in a busy hospital system, Dr. Ramp is equally intent on preparing her pharmacy team for the future of healthcare. Pharmacists are on the frontlines of introducing novel therapies, and she’s keenly aware of the implications of advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI).

“I like AI to how we learned to engage with the internet and Wikipedia. AI does have an important piece in our future, but we have to validate it. [Even with support from AI,] we still have so much value as a profession based on the skills that we have. I want to make sure we’re able to pivot as it’s happening.” 

Dr. Ramp is an active ASHP member, regularly presenting at conferences and visiting Washington, D.C. to advocate for the pharmacy profession. She also focuses on the most effective ways to engage, train, and retain the pharmacy workforce. That starts with challenging fundamental assumptions about what professional education even looks like for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians — or any other healthcare role, for that matter.

“We have done a lot of work around creating a pharmacy educator program to help our team onboard in a better way, make them feel a part of the community, and make them feel supported from day one. What’s different is we’re focusing on how we can utilize adult learning theory. I would challenge my fellow [healthcare] leaders across the country to ask whether the resources and training we create really support adult learners.” 

We have done a lot of work around creating a pharmacy educator program to help our team onboard in a better way, make them feel a part of the community, and make them feel supported from day one”

Leading with compassion … constantly innovating, educating, and prioritizing the well-being of both patients and the healthcare team: For Dr. Ramp, that’s what it means to be your pharmacist.